WASHINGTON, June 18 (UPI) -- Campaign officials for Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama accused each other of endorsing risky policies regarding terrorism suspects and using fear tactics.
Advisers to McCain, R-Ariz., the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, called Obama's approach to handling terrorism suspects "naive" after he voiced support for the U.S. Supreme Court decision granting suspected terrorism prisoners in military facilities the right to challenge their detentions in civilian courts, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
Obama's campaign countered that Republicans who led unsuccessful efforts to capture Osama bin Laden lacked the credibility to criticize him on the issue.
Obama's stance is a "Sept. 10 mind-set," said McCain adviser Randy Scheunemann, adding the Democratic Illinois senator "does not understand the nature of the enemy as we face it."
Former New York Mayor Rudy Guilani said Obama's position is "a belief that underscores his fundamental lack of judgment regarding our national security."
Obama told reporters he thinks terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have the right to be heard, not released, and accused McCain's campaign of playing politics with national security.
"What they're trying to do is what they've done every election cycle, which is to use terrorism as a club to make the American people afraid," Obama said.
